Quality rises with local curtains
Smaller troupes show they can match the pace set by larger outfits.
By ERIC MARCHESE
Special to the Register

For Orange County theater this year, it was a case of getting older and getting better.

Time was when strong outings by north county troupes Stages, Vanguard and Fullerton Civic Light and occasional good work by various small troupes were all you could expect.

Now, a cadre of independent storefront theater troupes leads the charge with a muscular command of theater. They're well-schooled in the art form's demands and aren't afraid to take chances.

Shaken loose from its home of nine years, Vanguard had its scheduled season disrupted and has yet to find a new home. Now occupying its old venue are Hunger Artists, who offer works of varied quality regardless of audience turnout, and the upstart Insurgo Theatre Movement, a small company to keep an eye on.

The Chance, Rude Guerrilla Theater Company and Stages Theatre are the nucleus of the county's best small theater groups. All three have enjoyed banner years. Rude Guerrilla in particular has had an exceptional season at its Empire Theater in downtown Santa Ana: Seven of its nine productions were worthy of note.

Pro troupes Fullerton Civic Light Opera and McCoy Rigby Entertainment succeeded with warhorses old and new: FCLO with "The Scarlet Pimpernel," McCoy Rigby with a new touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

In nearby Long Beach, International City Theatre (downtown) and the city's only professional musical theater group, Musical Theatre West (at Carpenter Center), did substantial work. At its two venues, the venerated Long Beach Playhouse had one of its best years in recent memory, with too many good shows to list, while at the Edison Theatre downtown, Cal Rep offered intriguing works like "Elfriede's Story" and "Willie, Mickey and the Duke."

THE TOP 10

1. " 'Master Harold'... and the boys" (International City Theatre): Athol Fugard's concise, incisive script, with its tough, unflinching look at the true ugliness of racism, got a penetrating take by caryn morse desai and her standout cast.

2. "Taking Sides" (Rude Guerrilla): Ronald Harwood's trenchant examination at how a famed German conductor is raked over the coals in the aftermath of World War II got forceful direction by Sharyn Case and strong acting overall.

3. "Dealer's Choice" (Stages): Director Steven John gave Marber's script the right punch and urgency, and his cast ran with it, creating a funny, profane and yet genuinely profound evening.

4. "Triumph of Love" (International City Theatre): The addition of songs to Marivaux's light, clever look at what makes the heart stir turned a well-crafted comedy into a sweet-tempered fairy tale.